Switch



March 15, 193 2. G. A, M TTHE S ET 1,849,375

SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet v1 Filed Jan. 10, 1930 A; A TTORNE Y.

INVENT R5 L J. m SM Y Y .1 lllll ma; av

March 1932- G. A. MATTHEWS ET AL 1,349,375

SWITCH Filed Jan. 10, 1930 A TTORNE 3o considerable distance. V

Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE GEORGE mm]; fr. sno'nmxnnjor DETROIT, MICHIGAN swrrcn I Application m was 110,,1'aaof Serial No. 419,789.

The present invention relates to'switch es and more particularlyto interlocking disconnecting'switches. j

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a gang switch having a number of switch arms fixedly mounted upon a rotating shaft, the shaft in its rotary movementcarrying all the arms'from one position to another in a rapid and positive manner.

0 Another object is to provide a casing for a movable gang switch, the casing being divided by suitable insulating partitions, into a number of. sections or cells, so that the con-,

tacts are completely shielded from one another, whereby 'short-circuiting due to flashover between contacts will be prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a casing for movable switch arms, the casing being provided with a slotted baffle '30 plate adapted to be traversed by arms in their movement, the slots being provided with shutters which are automatically movable to close and open said slots as the arms pass through them from one section of said casing 26 to another.

the other, as the switch arm is moved from one of said contacts to the other.

Another object of the invention is, to prointwo separately operated switches are provided, one of which is adapted to electrically connect outside power lines to'the customers incoming lines, and the other of which lines to the load. I

A stillv further object is to providea 'multiple switch. construction havingtwo separately operated switches, with an interlock to preventmovement of one of the switches drawings in which i movable switch arms.

shaft, taken alongthe line 77 of Fig. 2.

cuit breaker.

vide a multiple switch construction whereis adapted to connect the latter mentioned all. times except when the other of the 5 switches occupies certain desired positions.

Other objects will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon reference to the fol lowing description and the accompanying Fig. .1 is a sidefview in elevation of the switch construction.

Fig; 2 is a front view in elevation of the same.

crating means in conjunction with the interlocking means operated thereby. v

Fig. 4 is an exploded view, in perspective, of details of the interlocking means.

Fig. 5 is a plan view in section of the baflie plate and shutter arrangement, and

Fig. 6 is a view in section of one of the Fig. 7 is'a vieWiin section of the gang Referring more specifically to the drawings (Fig. 1 and 2) power lines 10 and 11 are shown entering thes'ectional or cellular casing 12 where they are electrically connected to. the multiple contacts 13 and 14 on the disconnecting switch 15. The latter in turn is connected byme'ans of cables 16 to the master switch 17 which may be either a nonautomatic oil switch oran automatic oil cirand an interlocking arrangement to prevent movement of one handle unless the other handle occupies a predetermined position, is provided I The preferred form of interlock, shown "best in Figs. 2 and 4, includes a bar link 20 depending from and operated by the disconnecting switch handle 18, and provided with three or more apertures 21, the number of such apertures corresponding'tothe number of desired positions of the disconnecting switch arm 22/ Inthe embodiment shown, there are three such apertures 21', the switch farm. 22 having three desired positions, as shown in Fig. 2. Link 20 reciprocates vertically in the two part bracket 23 in such a mannerthat one ofthe apertures 21 may align with apertures 24 therein, to provide Pivoted handles 18 and 19 are provided for the operationof these switches,

' 60 Fig. 3 is an elevation view of a switch opaguide-way for the end 25 of the interlocking rod which, as shown in Fig. 2, is connected to the master switch handle 19 thru linkage 27 to control the movement thereof.

hen the handle 18 has been moved so as to place disconnecting switch arm 22 in one of its desired posit-ions, one. of the apertures 21 will automatically be aligned with apertures 24-, enabling rod 26 to reciprocate freely in the guideway thus formed, in turn permitting movement of linkage 27 and master switch handle 19. Reversely, when the disconnecting switch handle has not been moved and switch arm 22 is out of one of its desired positions, there will be no aperture 21. aligned with apertures The latter will instead be locked by link 20, the end 25 of rod 26 abutting thereon, and movement of the switch handle 19 from its upper or open switch position to its lower or closed switch position will be prevented.

Furthermore, the disconnecting switch 15 may be locked in a corresponding manner, so that it can not be opened or closed under load, that is to say, when master switch 17 is closed and interlocking rod 26 is disposed within the apertures 21 and 24.

In order to preclude the possibility of a short circuit occurring between parts of the disconnecting switch, and to prevent arcing between contacts as the switch arm is more l, the entire disconnecting switch assembly, with the exception of its operating handle 18, linkage 32, and gang shaft 14, is enclosed or housed in. a sectional or cellular casing 12, )I'OVltlGCl with cell-forming insulating parti tions 33 and baflle plate 34.

The latter is slotted, as at 35, to permit main switch arms 22 to pass therethru, the slots corresponding roughly in shape and in size to the arms 22. Each slot is provided with spring operated, automatically movable shutters 36 and 37, shown best in Fig. 5, to close said slots after the passage therethru of arms 22, one of the shutters being opened and held open by an arm 22, the other shutter immediately closing behind that arm which traversed the corresponding slot in the baffle plate.

It will thus be seen that the shutters, while not interfering with the movement of switch arm 22, will, at the same time, effectually close the slots or openings in the baffle plate to assist the baffle plate in the prevention of short circuits between any of the switch parts.

The disconnecting switch arm 22, movable between contacts 13 and 14: includesa switch blade 41 directly connected,mechanically and electrically, to the flexible cable 16, which in turn leads to the master switch 17. Cable 16, for at least a portion of its length is surrounded by the rigid insulating sleeve 1-3, the latter also enclosing the connect on between blade 11 and cable 16. Sleeve l3 which is keyed to the bosses in shaft 44, as seen in Fig. 7, serves also to insulatingly support cable 16 and blade ll on gang shaft el-l, the latter being mechanically connected to linkage 32 whereby movement of the handle 18 causes rotation of shaft 1 1 and arms fixed ly mounted thereon.

Gang shaft is mounted below frame of casing 12 on bearings 46 to rotate on its own longitudinal axis, and may have one or more arms 22 fixedly mounted thereon. It will be noted that flexible cable 16 extend: transversely thru shaft 1. 1 and is unbroken, mechanically or electrically, from where it leaves the switch blade until it has passed thru the casing 12 and shaft 4 1, and a considerable distance beyond.

It will also be noted th at the sha and its associated parts are completely grounded thru the bearings l8 and the entire switch frame, preventing disastrous effects in case of breakdown of any of the insulated par This construction, eliminating as it does, the use of brushes, sliding or rotating contacts, and the like, precludes the possibi lit-v of short circuits or circuit interruptions arising within or adjacent the casing 1 and the shaft 1 1.

It is also noted that the axis of rotation of the shaft 4.4: is between contacts 13 and 14, and an equal distance from each of them, so that blade 11 will enter and leave the contacts on opposite sides of the shaft with equal rapidity.

It will also be noted that the blades ll will travel rapidly and positively with respect to the handle 1.8, a slight moven'ient of shaft 121 causing a magnified movement of blades ll.

The entire construction such that the connection between the blade 41 and cable 16 is short and direct, there being no intcrveil ng connecting members, and the whole switch with the exception of ex 'ios-cd blade 41 and contacts 13 and 1 1 are completely insulated and shielded, there being a complete insulating casing around cable 16 for at least as much of its length as is contained within casing 12.

Furthermore, in case of failure or breakdown. in the insulation of any switch a rm, the current will not pass from one arm to any other, but will go directly to ground, thru the shaft 41% and the frame of the switch, the frame, in installations of this character, being normally grounded.

Now, havir described the invention and the preferred form of embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the said invention is to be limited, not to the specific details of description, but only by the scope of the claims which follow.

Claims:

1. In a switch, a plurality of pairs of con tacts, a rotatable shaft between said contacts, the axis of rotation of said shaft being between said contacts, and a switch arm fixedly mounted on said shaft, and adapted to rotate with said shaft to selectively engage said contacts, said shaft having hollow cylindrical bosses projecting therefrom, each, of said bosses containing an insulating sleeve, and a cable in each of said sleeves formin art of the switch arm the end of each. cab e aving a switch blade thereon, the sleeve enclosing the connection between the blade and the cable end. j

2. In a switch, a movable shaft, a sleeve extending transversely through said shaft, a flexible cable extending thru said sleeve, and a switch blade on the end of said cable and projecting beyond the end of said sleeve.

3. In a switch, a casing, a shaft below said casing, the axis of the shaft being substantially parallel to the plane of the ad'acent wall of the casing, a switch arm xedly mounted on the shaft and projecting into said casing, the shaft being rotatable to cause movement of said arm in said casing, and having hollow cylindrical bosses projecting therefrom, each of said bosses containing an insulating sleeve, and a cable in each of said sleeves forming part of the switch arm.

4. In a switch, the combination of twoconprovided with a baflle plate disposed across the path of movement of said arm, said baflie plate being slotted to permit movement of said arm, the slot corresponding roughly, in size and shape, to that portion of the arm which passes through it, said late bein provided with means normally 0 osing sai slot, said baflle' plate and said means serving to shield said arm. fromsaid contact when they are not in engagement with each other.

9. In an electric switch, a casing, an insulatmg sleeve 111' said casing, an electric cable in said sleeve, and a switch blade elec-- I trically and mechanically connected to said? cable, the insulating sleeve com letel enclosing the connection between sai bla e and said cable and also enclosing the entire length of said cable contained within said casing. v GEO. A. MATTHEWS.

J OS. J. SHOEMAKER.

tacts, a switch arm movable into and out of engagement with said contacts, and a casing for said arm and contacts, said casing being provided with a baflle plate disposed across the path of movement of said arm to shield said arm and one contact from thecontact not in engagement with said arm. v

5. In an electric switch, a movable shaft having a plurality of transverse bores, insulating sleeves in said bores and extending transversely thru said shaft and spaced from each other, a flexible cable in each of said sleeves, and a switch blade on each of said cables.

6. In a switch, the combination of a contact, a switch arm movable into and out of engagement with said contact, and a casing for said arm and contact, said casing being provided with a baffle plate disposed across the path of movement of said arm to shield said I arm from said contact when they are not in engagement with each other. I

7 In a switch, the combination of a contact, a switch arm movable into and out of engagement with said contact, and a casing for said arm and contact, said casing being provided with a baffle plate disposed across the path of movement of said arm, said baflle plate being slotted to permit movement of said arm, the slot corresponding roughly, in

size and shape to that portion of the arm which passes thru it, the baffle plate serving to shield said arm from said contact when they are not in engagement with each other.

8. In a switch, the combination of a contact, a switch arm movable into and out of engagement'with said contact, and a casing for said arm and contact, said casing being 

